Becoming a Caregiver
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Caregivers come to this role in many different ways. For some, the beginning is abrupt: perhaps there's a trigger event, such as an elderly parent's health crisis or financial emergency, and someone has to step in to take care of things. Other people assume the caregiver role gradually, providing more and more practical and emotional support. In this situation, defining just when he or she became a caregiver is more difficult.
The caregiving role is not an easy one: it can be stressful, time-consuming, and physically demanding. Good caregiving requires organization, patience, resourcefulness, and stamina. Caregivers also must understand that to remain emotionally and physically healthy enough to provide care, they must take care of their own needs as well as the recipient's.
But to coordinate care effectively, find supports and resources, and take care
of oneself, the caregiver first needs to recognize that he or she is fulfilling
that role:
| Do you provide your parent/relative/friend with major help with financial matters, such as check writing, insurance, budgeting, bill paying? | Yes | No |
| Do you coordinate medical care (e.g., doctor's visits, medicines) for your parent/relative/friend? | Yes | No |
| Do you provide assistance so your parent/relative/friend can remain in his or her own home? | Yes | No |
| Do you provide major assistance with chores, or coordinate these (e.g., house cleaning, lawn mowing, home repairs, snow shoveling)? | Yes | No |
| Do you provide transportation regularly for your parent/relative/friend? | Yes | No |
| Are you responsible for most of the emotional support to your parent/relative/friend? | Yes | No |
| Are you providing physical care and assistance (e.g., bathing, dressing, toileting) and/or informal nursing care (e.g., administration of medications) to your parent/relative/friend? | Yes | No |
| Are you the one responsible for communicating about your parent/relative/friend with other family members and/or support people and/or professionals? | Yes | No |
If you answered yes to any of these questions, there's a good possibility that you've become a caregiver.
